George Santos accused of sexual harassment by former aide

Washington DC - A former aide in New York congressman George Santos' office has accused the disgraced politician of sexual harassment in a letter sent to the House Ethics Committee.

New York Rep. George Santos speaks to reporters as he leaves the Longworth House Office building on Capitol Hill.
New York Rep. George Santos speaks to reporters as he leaves the Longworth House Office building on Capitol Hill.  © REUTERS

In the letter, sent on Friday, a former aide named Derek Myers accuses Santos of sexually harassing him in the office on January 25.

Myers said he was alone with the Republican congressman in his DC office that day reviewing mail correspondence from constituents. Previously, Myers said Santos told him he had a Grindr profile and asked the aide if he had one too.

Santos allegedly asked Myers to sit next to him on the couch and at one point placed his hand on the aide's leg near his knee.

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"Hey buddy, we're going to karaoke tonight. Would you like to go?" Santos reportedly asked.

Myers declined the invitation, at which point he said Santos began to move his hand up his leg and touch his groin.

"My husband is out of town tonight if you want to come over," the congressman said, according to the letter. Myers said he pushed Santos' hand away and left the office shortly after.

A few days later, Myers said he was called in on January 30 to face questions about his conduct while a journalist, questions he said he already answered in his application process. On February 1, Myers was told his job offer was being taken back.

Myers noted he has already filed a report with US Capitol police about the incident of alleged sexual harassment.

Former aide accuses George Santos of violating House Ethics rules

George Santos gets into a car outside the Longworth House Office building in Washington DC.
George Santos gets into a car outside the Longworth House Office building in Washington DC.  © REUTERS

On top of all that, Myers also accused his former boss of violating congressional procedures for employing unpaid volunteers.

Myers said he received an offer to serve as Santos' "legislative correspondence" and "staff assistant" on January 23. The following day, he was invited to the DC office to meet the rest of the staff.

The new hire got to work right away answering phone calls, reading mail, responding to constituents, and escorting Santos to meetings and appointments – but he wasn't getting paid.

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Instead, Myers had been told that he was working as a "volunteer" until the "payroll department" was able to process his new-hire paperwork, which could supposedly take several days. The aide later learned that such volunteer work was not in line with established procedures and violated House Ethics rules.

"I am requesting an investigation into the sexual harassment of Congress[man] Santos, as well as his violation of House Ethics rules on volunteering in the workplace by having staff offload work onto the volunteer with the promise of employment," Myers concluded his letter.

The accusations are the latest plaguing Santos, who is already under investigation for his sketchy campaign finances. He has also come under fire for faking huge portions of his career and personal history on the campaign trail and is facing a revived fraud case in Brazil.

Though he voluntarily stepped down from his two House committee assignments, Santos has refused to resign from Congress.

Cover photo: REUTERS

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